The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-27
BORROWED PLUMES.

AL Outt-lOOhluS uSuIC, dIIdNCu III
shabby cloak and green veil, appeared
before Charles Lorraine. junior partner in
the firm of Stearne s. Lorraine. book
publishers.
II have book here I would like to
offer you. sir"
There was quiver in the girlish voice,
and the cotton gloved hand holding the
manuscript trembled, in spite of her eff
forts to be calm.
"Ies, l suppose so: much obliged,
but we are not needing anything just at
present. And Mr.. Lorraine went on
with his writing.
Surely, sir, you do not mean that
you will not even look at it2'
Certainly mean it. we have no time
to waste over manuscripts we do not
want"
But how do you know mine would
not be accepted without seeing it, Ihave
spent mouths-years, may say"
"No doubt; so have others who might
have been better employed"
but have travelled far, at some ex-
pense. My case is a peculiar one"
$50 are they all; each one has o
special plea to urge in offering us book;
80 really, madam or miss, you are vast
ing your time and mine. | must beg YOU
to excuse me from further discussion; I
am busy"
''Order me out at oncc!" came hyster-
ically from the folds of the green veil.
"Oh, what will become of me? What
shall do2" And turning around, as
though in answer to her own question,
she ran straight into the arms of the
senior partner, Horace Stearne, who was
coming in at that moment.
He had vision of quivering red lips,
startled brown eyes and tear-wet lashes,
and then, before lie could recover from
his astonishment, she was gone.
"Confound it!" Charley was saving.
'Can't man refuse to buy bundle of
grimy manuscript without raising a tenn
pest. BY Jove! that young woman has
missed her fate by choosing literature
she should go on the stage in high
tragedy"
''Did you look at her Offering,
Charlic::'
II looked at her; that was enoughw
"You should have allowed her to
leave it here little while, just to satisfy
her, you know. Poor child, I suppose
she has built upou its acceptance.
He turned to the door and looked up
and down the street.
"She is out of sight entirely, now," he
added regrctfully.
Upon leaving the publishing house the
girl kept her veil closely drawn, and,
turning into sidestree walked rapidly,
but aimlcssly, until she reached the out
skirts of the city; then, seating herself
upon stone by the waysidc, withdrew
her veil
She was not noticeably handsome. Her
eyes, although beautiful brown, were
dull with agony; her face was tear-s:a;ned
and swollen, and her yellow hair dis
hevelled. 1t was in the latter part of
November, and night was coming on,
but this wrctched girl was homeless.
Her pitiful story is quickly told. Her
father, the only parent she could remem-
Der, had been poor schoolmaster, her
mother having died at her birth. He
had educated his child himself, with
particular care, so at eighteen she was
far in advance of most girls of her age,
and from her narrow experience, by the
aid of vivid fancy, she had written
novel.
Then suddenly she found herself father
less, and when the funeral expenses were
paid she was the possessor of library of
we'll thumbed volumes, six dollars in
money and her precious novel.
But this in itself was her fortune, and
though dazed by her sudden bereave
ment, she determined TO 60 to the city
and turn it into hard cash as speedily as
possible.
81 dare not buy bit of decent mourn
ing yet, " she sobbel. II must save the
six dollars to pay my expen cs until get
my money"
Poor child! she never dreamed of dis
appointment. She knew so little of life
as it really is-of its hard struggles for
small triumphs, its sharp competition
and crowded marts. She knew not
that
For one who wins the crown,
Hundreds go down. go DOWN.
So, a business card from the publishing
house of Stearne & Lorraine having
fallen into her possession, she had carried
her precious manuscript straight to them,
with what result we already know.
A small dwelling was near where she
sat, and several COWS were gathering the
scant heritage by the wayside. The
tinkle of their bells had a soothing effect,
and when they turned their meek ewes
upon her, she almost felt as though they
piticd her misery.
The cottage door opened, and a woman
came toward her with couple of milk
pals, and as she knclt to her task, she
glanced over her shoulder at the silent
figure, looking so pitiful and dcsolate.
She finished her milking, hcsitated
moment, and then lcmarkcd,-
"Aren't you cold sitting there?o"
eyes"
Won't you come into my house and
warm yourself? This is a poor place to
rest"
The young girl arose and silently fol-
lowed her.
s'What is your name?" she asked,
kindly but curiously, as they entered the
tiny dwelling, and she proceeded to
make her guest comfortable.
"Jernie Morrison, L
But tears and sobs chokcd back the
rest OF the sentence. In IN hour tn:
thoughtful, kind hearted woman, who
was spinster living al a'onc, knew the
whole sad story. and declared she should
81 " ..h"ra unit! SON - ."'!' dc done.